Hinge for folding partitions



Jan. 5, 1943.

C. H. APEL HINGE FOR FOLDING PARTITIONS Filed May 29, 1939 4 Sheets$heet 1 HINGE FOR FOLDING PARTITIONS Filed May 29, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIN/H Jan. 5, 1943.

c. H. APEL HINGE FOR FOLDING PARTITIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 29, 1939 Patented Jan. 5, i943 HINGE FOR FOLDHNG PARTITION S Carl H. Ape], Chicago, 311., assignor to Pullman- Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,326

9 Claims.

The railway passenger of today is afiorded more privacy and greater traveling comfort than ever before in the history of railroad transportation. These improved conditions are largely the result of more deluxe accommodations, ranging from the closed sleeping car section to the private rooms en suite; and it is this latter type of accommodation that forms the subject matter of the present invention.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide adjoining rooms separated by a simply operated, sound proof, and substantially airtight foldable partition having a safety provision for preventing pinching of the fingers or hand of a person moving the partition, and one which, when closed, is entirely devoid of openings.

As a further object, it is intended that such a partition requires manipulation from both sides for opening, and therefore cannot be opened at the will of an occupant of only one room.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a rail car with the side of the car and the room walls broken away so as to show the general arrangement of a pair of bedrooms en suite;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse sectional view I through one of the bedrooms;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken through the folding partition on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through one of the partition sections on the line L4 of Fig. 2, a portion of the partition being broken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken through one of the hinges of the partition on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view taken on the line 6-@ of Fig. 2, a portion of the partition being broken away;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, detail view of the top portion of one of the partition hinges taken on the line 1-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of hinge applied to adjoining sections of the partition, a portion of the door and hinge being broken away;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view showing the partition sections folded into the open door position.

A specific embodiment of the present invention has been selected for the purpose of disclosure in compliance with section ease of the Revised Statutes, but, obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the car body includes an underframe generally indicated at 293, a pair of sides 2i and 22, and a roof 2-3. Along the car interior adjacent to wall 2i, an aisle 2 3 extends throughout the length of the car and a plurality of bedrooms, two of which are shown at 25 and 26 in Figs. 1,2, and 3, extend from the aisle to car side 22 and are separated from the aisle by partition 2?.

These rooms as shown are what are termed double bedrooms, and are bounded on one side by a partition 28, on the ends by car side 22 and aisle partition 27, and along the other side by a folding partition 2%, shown in its closed position indotted lines in Fig. 2.

Each room is fully equipped for day and night use with a sofa 38, convertible into a lower berth, an upper berth 52, a toilet stand indicated at 35, including a hopper 32 (shown in Fig. 2) enclosed in a housing 33, a washstand 3d, a medicine cabinet 35, and an open shelf 38.

As shown in Fig. 1, rooms 25 and 25 are separated by a folding partition 29, and the toilet stands 3! inthe two rooms are positioned against the car side 22 in such a manner that their dividing line, indicated at 53, lies in the plane of the folding partition 29; and when this partition is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, it is sealed against the toilet stands.

Partition 29 is hinged to aisle partition 21, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and is made up of three partition sections, 54, 55, and 56, the first two of which are hinged together by vertical hinge 57, and sections and 58 are hinged together by a vertical hinge 58. The partition is supported at its top from a pair of stationary panels 59, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, spaced to receive a track Gil, shownin Fig. 5. This track is inverted U-shaped with inwardly extending flanges 8i, and serves to guide the partition 29.

The details of the folding partition 29 are best disclosed in Figs. 3-7, inclusive. A ply metal section it serving as a door side piece is secured to the aisle partition 27 by means of angle bars ii and 52, one positioned on each side of the ply metal panel. Partition sections 5! and 55 serve to carry the adjoining partition section, and so with respect to their adjoining section may be regarded as door, supporting side f 2,807,560 in hinge elements I3, suitably spaced throughout the height of the folding partition. A facing strip I4 is secured to the ply metal panel so as to finish oil. the panel by hiding the hinge sections. 18 where they are secured to the panel. To section 55 of the folding partition is secured an angle bar I5, to which is applied a plurality of hinge sections I6, suitably spaced throughout the height of the partition to serve as complemen'tary hinge members to elements 13. Between-spaced elements I3 on each partition section and each element [6 on the adjoining partition section a filler I! is employed, and then a finishing strip I8 is used to cover these filler and hinge members on each partition section. A tube 19 extends through the hinge members I3 and I8 to serve as a pin to complete the vertical hinge.

- Referring to Fig. 3, in order to seal the hinge so as to make it sound proof and light proof, metal strips 80 and 8| which may be termed sealing members are secured to ply metal panel I and partition section 54, respectively, by means of screws 82; and these strips are provided with flanges '03, having pockets for receiving a sealing strip 85 of felt, rubber, or other suitable material, which bears against the vertical hinge.

-- The strips .80 and 8| extend throughout the height of the folding partition, and are provided with a finger guide made up of inclined surfaces 88 and 80', which forces the finger of the operator away from the hinge itself to prevent pinching of the finger.

The various angle members, fillers, hinge members, and finishing strips are all secured to the ply metal panel and partition sections by means of riveting, screws, or other suitable means, and the construction of hinges 51 and 58 is identical with the one connecting partition section 54 to the ply metal panel I6.

Between the toilet stands for the adjoining rooms is placed 9. ply metal strip 81 (Fig. 1), which extends from the floor to the top of the folding partition and, as shown in Fig. 3, an angle bar 88 is secured to the free end of this strip. A 2 bar 89 is then fastened to the end of the ply metal strip 81, and along the inner face of flange 90 of the Z bar89 is cemented a felt pad 9|. A channel strip 82 is riveted or otherwise secured to the free end of partition section 60, and, when the partition is closed, this channel strip rests against the felt pad 8|.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the folding partition is swung from overhead on the track- 60 by a block 93 riding on the track; and a supporting arm 94, secured to this block by means of a rivet 95, extends downwardly, and ,terminates with a flanged portion 98. A pin 91, mounted on the flange 96 of the arm 94, projects downwardly into the tube I9, and is secured thereto, as indicated at 98. Between the head of the pin 91 and the flange 96 is inserted some suitable type of bearing, such as ball bearings 99. Between each of the adjoining hinge members I3 and I5 and at the top of the hinge member I3, located at the top of the partition, are inserted bushings I00, which'seal the hinges to prevent passage of sound and light.

As shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. l, the partition 29 folds into room 25, and consequently the panel 59 '(Figs. 5 and 6), which is located in room 26, is provided with a 2 bar IN,

having a felt or other suitable strip I02, against which the partition closes to form a seal across the top of the partition.- A channel strip I03 extends across the top of the partition sections.

A finishing strip in the form of an angle I04- is provided along the bottom of the panel 5! on the side facing room 25. As best shown in Figs.

.tions are provided with channel members I06,

which are adapted to receive wooden blocks I01. Sealing strips I08 of rubber or other suitable material are inserted into the wooden blocks I01 and serve to seal the folding partition at the floor.

' Between the panel sections 59 and the track 60 are inserted fillers I09.

As indicated in Fig. 1, partition 29, when opened, is folded back against the aisle door leading into room 25; and, when closed, the partition is locked in place by means of floor bolts H0 and III (Fig. 2) and overhead bolts H2 and H3, which are inserted and locked into suitable slots. In order to open the partition, it is necessary to manipulate bolts H0 and H2 from one side of the partition and bolts III and H3 from the other side, so that the partition can be opened only after manipulation from both rooms.

Positioned on the middle partition section 50 on each side is folding table Ill, which may be opened and used as a writing table, and a mirror 5 directly above the table.

Block 93 is preferably made of wood, fiber, hard rubber, or some other suitable material to prevent excessive noise due to the rattling of is provided with arcuate surfaces I2I and I22,

about which the partitions 56 and 55, respectively, swing. Metal strips I23 and I24 extend along the edges of the partition sections 00 and 55, respectively, and they in turn are provided with arcuate surfaces I25 and I26, which have the same radius of curvature as do the surfaces I2I and I22. In this form of the invention,

there are two hinges I21 and I20 extending throughout the height of the partition sections, one serving for each of the partitions and both being secured to the intermediate hinge member I20 by an arm I29, suitably attached to the intermediate hinge member I20. The partition section 56 pivots about the intermediate section I20 with the hinge I21 as a pivot point, and

partition section 05 swings about the hinge I20 as its pivot point. Sealing strips of felt or other suitable material are indicated at I30, and they serve to prevent passage of sounds, air, and light through the hinge and, if necessary, other padding may be employed to eliminate metal to metal contact in the hinge to prevent rattling of the partition when the car is in motion, as. for example, along the edges lll'and I30 of the intermediate hinge member I20 (see Fig. 10).

The partition is supported as before from an overhead track I 3| (Fig. 8) by means of a fiber or other suitable guide block I32; and, in this instance, a rod I33 passes through the guide that there will be sage of this smoke into 7 was necessary to guiding the fingers so that, when the folding partition the sections assume the position shown in Fig. 10 with sections 55 and 58 substantially parallel. In this manner, sufficient space is allowed between the partition sections is folded back to accommodate the folding table lid and the mirror H5 in the event these last two members are not recessed in the door 55. Pivoting of the partition support is provided between the nut we and the guide block I82.

The hinge stop its is divided into two segments, one at the bottom of the partition (Fig. 8) and extending up for a short distance, and the other section being at the top of the partition and extending down a few inches. The space between the hinges I27 and I28 for the remainder of the partition height is free so that, when the partition sections are-folded back as shown in Fig. 10, there is no chance of a person's flnger being pinched either between the hinges themselves or between one of the hinges and the stop I33.

Referring to Fig. 10, it is to be noted that the strips I23 and I26 should extendaway from the end of the partition sections 55 and 5t, respectively, a sufiicient amount so that, when the partition is opened, edges its and Mil of the strips I23 and 126, respectively, are in engage ment with the sealing strips its; but, when the partition is closed, these edges 58% and Hit should be sufdciently spaced from each other so no chance of pinching the fingers between these edges.

In an eflort to make each individual room absolutely private and free from sounds or odors from the adjoining room, the present partition with its novel hinge arrangement has been developed. The problem was cause today occupants of rooms are permitted to smoke, and the partition must prevent pas-- the adjoining room so as not to annoy the neighboring occupant, who may obiectto smoke.

It often happens that a group of passengers may congregate in one of the private bedrooms. perhaps for business conferences; and it is important that the occupant oi the adjoining room he not disturbed by the loud talmng and laughter of his neighbors. For this reason, the partition must be sound-proof: and with this in mind the present invention was developed.

Because oithe danger of catching the fingers in the partition hinge when moving the partition from the-open position to the closed, it incorporate some means for away from the abutting edges entirely avoiding the problem abutting edges.

of the hinge or of byeliminating the Obviously, changes can be made in the man- 7 her of accomplishing these various results without departing from the present invention.

I claim:

1. For use in conjunction with a door spaced from and in the plane of its supporting side limit the movement of the hinges not an easy one, be-

it piece, a hinge comprising complementary hinge. sections cylindrical portions rother in the region be- 2. For use in conjunction with a door spaced from and in the plane of its supporting side piece, a sealedhinge comprising complementary hinge sections lying substantially in the plan of one side of the door, one of said sections being secured to the door and including a cylindrical portion, and the other being secured to the side piece and including a cylindrical portion the two cylindrical portions being arranged one above the other and rotatable with respect to each between th door sealing the op to effect vely restrict the passage oi light, sound, and air through the hinge.

members being arranged with their cylindrical portions pivotally joined in the space between the doorway and the supporting side piece and having arcuate surfaces about which the door swings, and a sealing member projecting beyond the edge of the door adjacent to the cylindrical hinge portions and resiliently engaging the arcuate surface of the cylindrical portions to seal the openings through the hinge and restrict the passage of light, sound, and air, the cylindrical hinge portions projecting beyond the plane of the door on the side where the angle between the door and its supporting side piece'diminishes when the r is opened, the sealing member being disposed on the opposite face of the door and projecting toward the the ers of the operator away from the abutting ends of the door and its supporting side piece respectively when the door is being closed.

4. For use in combination with a door spaced from its cooperating supporting side piece, a e comprising a vertical central member in the space between the door and its supporting side piece and having arcuate outer surfaces curved about vertical axes, hinge sections on the adjacent ends of the door and the supporting side piece hingedly secured to the central member and adapted to swing horizontally about the arcuate surfaces, sealing members projecting from the edges of the adjacent ends of the door and the supporting side piece and having portions conforming to the contour of the arcuate surfaces of the central member and cooperating with the said arcuate surfaces to effectively close the space between the door and its supporting side piece, and means interposed between the sealing members and the central member to seal the hinge against passage of light, sound and air.

5. A hinge for pivotally securing together two spaced sections of a folding partition comprising vertically arranged complementary hinge sections projecting alternately from the adjacent ends of the partition sections into the space between the partition sections and arranged one above the other, each hinge section comprising a fulcrum member disposed in the space between the partition sections and an outwardly projecting arm adapted to be fastened to its corresponding partition section, means for pivotally connecting together the fulcrum members, the hinge fulcrum members being provided with outer arcuate surfaces eurved about the vertical axis, sealing members projecting outwardly from the adjacent ends, respectively, of the partition sections and terminating with surfaces closely adjacent to the fulcrum members and conforming to the contour of the arcuate surfaces on the fulcrum members, and means interposed between the sealing members and the fulcrum members to seal the hinge against passage therethrough of air, light and sound.

6. A hinge for pivotally securing together two spaced sections of a folding partition comprising vertically arranged complementary hinge sections projecting alternately from the adjacent ends of the partition sections into the space between the partition sections, each hinge section comprising a fulcrum member in the form of a vertical cylinder adapted to reside in the space between the partition sections and an arm adapted to be fastened to its corresponding partition section, means for pivotally connecting together the fulcrum members, sealing members substantially coextensive with the hinge and projecting from the adjacent partition ends into the space between the partition sections and terminating with surfaces closely adjacent to the fulcrum members and conforming to the contour of the outer cylindrical surface of the fulcrum members, and means interposed between the sealing members and the fulcrum members to seal the hinge against passage therethrough of air, light and sound.

7. A hinge for pivotally securing together two spaced sections of a folding partition comprising vertically arranged complementary hinge sections projecting alternately from the adjacent ends of the partition sections into the space between the partition sections and arranged one above the other, each hinge section comprising a substan= tially cylindrical portion and an outwardly projecting arm for attachment to its corresponding partition segment, means for pivotally fastening together the cylindrical portions, said cylindrical portions having outer arcuate surfaces associated therewith, a plurality of sealing members secured to the opposite partition sections and projecting beyond the respective edges of the-partition sections into the space between said sections to positions closely adjacent to the arcuate surfaces and together forming a continuous sealing means throughout the height of the door, the ends of the sealing members being curved to conform to the contour of the arcuate surfaces, and means interposed between the sealing members and the arcuate surfaces and engaging the said surfaces to seal the hinge against passage therethrough of air, light, and sound.

8. A hinge for pivotally securing togethertwo spaced sections of a folding partition comprising vertically arranged complementary hinge sections projecting alternately from the adjacent ends of the partition sections into the space between the partition sections and arranged one above the other, each hinge section comprising a fulcrum member and an outwardly projecting arm for attachment to its corresponding partition section, means for pivotally connecting the fulcrum members to permit horizontal swinging of the hinge sections, said fulcrum members having outer arcuate surfaces associated therewith, a plurality of sealing members secured to the opposite partition sections and projecting beyond the respective edges of the partition sections into the space between said sections to positions closely adjacent to the arcuate surfaces and together forming a continuous sealing means throughout the height of the door, the ends of the sealing members being curved to conform to the contour of the arcuate surfaces, and means interposed between the sealing members and the arcuate surfaces engaging the said surfaces to seal the hinge against passage therethrough of air, light, and sound.

9. A hinge for pivotally securing together two spaced sections of a folding partition comprising vertically arranged complementary hinge sections projecting alternately from the adjacent ends of the partition sections into the space between the partition sections and arranged one above the other, means for pivotally supporting the hinge sections so that they may swing horizontally, said means having arcuate surfaces associated therewith, a plurality of sealing members secured to 

